With the win Seattle’s playoff hopes improves, but they still need to win their last 2 games and get some help to make the post-season.

Urban Dictionary: “BEAT DOWN” – The act of receiving a serious butt whoopin at the hands of a person or group of persons

Unlike the last few wins Marshawn Lynch did not have a big game, but the Seattle defense was solid in the great road win. To the tune of two defensive TD’s (Red Bryant, Brandon Browner) multiple sacks, and QB pressures, and as usual a stout run defense.

2. Tarvaris Jackson was solid

As usual T-Jack wasn’t great, but he didn’t do anything (Other than hold onto the ball to long in the end zone) to cost the Seahawks the game.

With Lynch struggling Jackson had to play well on offense and he did just that going 19/31 for 227 yards with 1 TD.

He was stellar in the 2nd half going 15/19 for 176 yards. Great throws to Golden Tate and Ben Obomanu at the beginning of the second half got the Seahawks started on the right foot after the break. It was all too easy after that.

3. 2nd half play

The Seahawks headed into halftime down 14-7, but in the 2nd half they scored 31 points while the Bears were shut out.

Main Reason Seattle won on Sunday? The Seattle defense and particularly the secondary came up HUGE!

When asked about the 2nd half after the game Seattle head coach Pete Carroll stated, “Yeah, baby. The turnaround at halftime was remarkable.”

4. Bears were shorthanded, big time

The Bears were struggling coming into the game losers of 3 straight and the main reason is that they are without their big guns.

No QB Jay Cutler and Matt Forte and in the first quarter leading WR Johnny Knox injured his back in a scary play and was carted off the field in a stretcher.

On top of that starting safety Chris Conte left the game at the end of the first half with a foot injury.

Combine all this with the fact Hanie was brutal, and the team was dealing with the whole off the field issues this week with regards to drug dealing Sam Hurd and its easy to see why the Bears just gave up in the 4th quarter.

Their will was gone!

5. Red zone offense

The Seahawks really took advantage of getting in the red zone in this matchup and they scored TD’s and did not settle for FG’s. In the game they were a solid 3/4 on their red zone possessions. You have to love that kind of production. The Marshawn Lynch factor cannot be overlooked.

Next Up: The Seahawks are at home for their next game, but face a San Francisco 49ers’ team that has already wrapped up the NFC West.

The 49ers come to Seattle on a short week, on Christmas eve and they’ll know they have a totally different Seahawks team to play than they saw in Week 1 down in the Bay.

Chances of the playoffs in 2012 are still there for Seattle, but they are slim. Seattle (7-7) needs to win out and get some help to earn a wild card berth.

The Seahawks got little help in Week 15 with both the Falcons and Lions winning their matchups. Should Seattle win their last two games versus the 49ers and the Cardinals they’ll still need Detroit to lose two.

Those games are against the Chargers in Week 16 in Detroit, and in Week 17 on the road vs. the Green Bay Packers.

I would have to say also some big penalties changed the game. Starting with the leverage penalty on the Bears, that led the Hawks TD. Also some drive the Bears were putting together, but then recieved holding penalties. Hawks seemed poised this game, very refreshing to see that.